Jonathan Ive Is Making Big Changes To The iPhone's Look And Feel If you've been following any coverage of the new iPhone, you've heard that iPhone 5 users (or any iDevice users who have updated their gadgets to iOS 6) are complaining rather loudly about how terrible the Apple Maps app is. The new navigation app, … Read more on Huffington Post
iOS 6.1.4 Update For iPhone 5 Released I recommend downloading this update from the iPhone itself – Settings > General > Software Update – as this way the entire package is only 11.5MB as opposed to being hundreds of megabytes if downloaded via iTunes. Apple is also currently working on … Read more on Forbes
Maybe the Low-End iPhone Is Really a Mid-End iPhone What if Apple's long-rumored low-end iPhone isn't targeted at the smartphone market's lower reaches? What if it's targeted at the middle? What if it isn't low-end at all, but simply mainstream? Not a $ 150 phone or even a $ 200 one, but a $ 350 one? Read more on All Things Digital
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“The One isn’t just the best smartphone HTC has ever made — it can legitimately lay claim to being the best smartphone ever produced by anyone.” That’s GDGT’s Peter Rojas speaking about the HTC One. Rojas isn’t alone in this opinion. The HTC One is a phone nearly universally loved by the Internet. The display, the size, the build quality, even HTC’s Android skin is nearly, well, perfect.
But even a perfect phone might not save HTC.
HTC released its March revenue figures today: lowest quarterly net profit since the company started selling products under its own brand in 2006. Revenue fell 37% to NT$ 42.8 billion from NT$ 67.79 billion, ringing in below the company’s February guidance of NT$ 50 billion to NT$ 60 billion. And the stunning One is one of the primes reasons for the slump.
The HTC One was announced on February 19th, ahead of the handset onslaught from Mobile World Congress and the Samsung Galaxy S4 debut. We were instantly in love with the device, raving about the look at feel after playing with it for just a few minutes. HTC was back, we thought.
HTC has long made quality handsets. The One is not a stark departure from the company’s track record. The company’s tag line has long been quietly brilliant. And that properly described HTC. The company rarely touted its achievements like Apple or Samsung, preferring to let its products, as they say, do the talking.
Ever since the Windows Mobile days, HTC has churned out impressive kits. The Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, even the original Android handset, the G1, felt like something special. Made out plastic, sure, but put together in a way that felt solid and above its price point.
As Android matured, HTC keep producing top-tier devices. At the time, Nexus One, EVO 4G, and the Droid Incredible seemed to state that HTC was always going to be the top Android brand. HTC kept the course, perhaps to a fault, and in 2012, outing the original One phones in the One S, One X and One V. Yet again, these were very nice handsets, but failed to capture the same sort of attention as their predecessors, largely living in the shadow of Samsung’s more-widely available Galaxy S II & III phones.
Benedict Evans, telecoms and technology analyst at Enders Analysis, made a fantastic point speaking to The Guardian. “HTC has a scale problem. Last year at this time both it and Sony launched great new products, and they went nowhere. Everybody is saying that the HTC One looks nicer than the Samsung Galaxy S4, but without the marketing and sales and commission budget, it can’t reach enough people. Making lovely bits of hardware is a necessary, but insufficient, condition in this business. Now it’s getting into a vicious circle where it has to cut back its marketing budget to get its cashflow under control.”
HTC was paying attention, though. The ONE was going to be different. It packs the best of HTC’s design and engineering and hit the market well ahead of competitors. The HTC One was supposed to launch worldwide in the middle of March, just a month after its unveiling.
That didn’t happen. But this did.
While the HTC One suffered numerous delays caused by a short supply of parts, Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 on March 14th. If the ridiculous announcement is any indication, Samsung is going to throw everything behind its latest smartphone. Expect a massive media blitz as the Galaxy S4′s Q2 launch window approaches, likely downing out any paltry marketing planned for the HTC One.
HTC has never been good at marketing partly because for the longest time the company didn’t have to. HTC used to make white label handsets, allowing other brands, such as Verizon and AT&T, to slap their logo on the devices and sell at higher margin. Most of the memorable marketing campaigns for HTC devices have come from the carriers rather than HTC.
If HTC wants the One to sell like gangbusters — and after today’s financial news, they need it to do so — the company will need to elevate its marketing efforts to a completely new level.
The HTC One launches in the States on AT&T and Sprint on April 19th. It’s hitting T-Mobile (and maybe Verizon) later. On AT&T and Sprint, it’s priced right with the 16GB available for $ 199 on a two-year contract (it’s only $ 99 on Sprint for new customers). It’s the best Android device available right now and for the foreseeable future. I would take it over the Galaxy S4.
HTC likely threw its entire company behind the HTC One. Pick one up. Try it. Feel it. The phone is closer to perfect than any other phone previously made. However, a perfect product has never been a guarantee of success. Like Benedect Evans said to The Guardian, while the HTC One might be a collection of lovely bits of hardware, that’s not enough alone.
In heartbreaking news, Disney is shutting down video game developer/publisher LucasArts after its acquisition of it and LucasFilm last year. The company was known for some of the best graphic adventure games the world has even seen, including: Maniac Mansion, Loom, Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Max Hit the Road, Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, the entire series of Indiana Jones point-and-click adventures, and every Monkey Island, to name a few of my favorites. The company has also made virtually every Star Wars game to date, but has decided to cancel development of both Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313 to focus on a business model that revolves primarily around licensing the rights for other companies to make Star Wars games instead of creating them in-house. Oh, I’ve got one — it’s called, ‘Fly This X-Wing Straight Up Mickey’s Ass’. It’s rated T for Teen because it’s really just a mix tape of me cussing. I may even release some DLC.
Thanks to Pyrblaze, Lisa, Skamodongo, Doombah and Mr. Q., two of which sound like rejected Super Mario enemies. Hopefully this thing turns out for the best.
Title pic via DeviantARTist NessD
Thought that Dell buy out was a done deal? Well, the Blackstone Group and investor Carl Icahn clearly don’t think so, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that both have contacted the committee of Dell’s board just before Friday’s shutoff deadline. The would-be bidders are reported to be working on their actual offer amounts, and in the process buying them four more days thinking time. Reuters reports that Blackstone’s tentative offer is already in, according to sources, but at this time the company is yet to comment. Despite a recent slump in profits, Michael Dell surprised many when he announced his intention to buy back the eponymous firm in a deal with Microsoft for $ 24.4 billion. So, if the founder thought he had the keys to the old estate back, he might just have to wait a little longer.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Dell
Source: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters
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Thought that Dell buy out was a done deal? Well, the Blackstone Group and Carl Icahn clearly don’t think so, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that both have contacted the committee of Dell’s board just before the shutoff deadline this Friday. The would-be investors are reported to be working on their actual bid amounts, and in the process buying them up to four more days thinking time. Reuters reports that Blackstone’s tentative offer is already in, according to sources, but at this time the company is yet to comment. Despite a recent slump in profits, Michael Dell surprised many when he announced his intention to buy back the eponymous firm in a deal with Microsoft for $ 24.4 billion. So, if the founder thought he had the keys to the old estate back, he might just have to wait a little longer.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Dell
Source: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters
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Twitter user TheRealMyron got this Netflix tattoo on the side of his stomach and tweeted it to Netflix’s account, and the movie-streaming giant awarded his loyal fandom with a free year of service. A whole year! Keep in mind Netflix wasn’t holding a contest or anything, Myron just got the tattoo because he loves the company and “Netflix is a lifestyle.” Just like swinging. Some other gems from his feed:
Netflix tweeted me retweeted my Tattoo and gave me a free year tonight there is noway you can’t believe in Netflix gang now it’s a movement
@netflix I’m so excited I love Netflix can I get a follow back also
There is so many strangers in my mentions about this Netflix stuff lol they don’t understand the life
@netflix follow me back pleaseeee
huff post said they want to do a story!!!!!!!!!
i just got asked to do a story on web cam i dont think i have a web came here
who has a web cam?
I have a webcam, Myron. Come over and you can do the interview from my place and then you can show me what this lifestyle is all about. I’ve had Netflix for years, but I didn’t know I was part of a MOVEMENT. Also, we should totally get some jackets and hats made with a catchy slogan to celebrate your victory. I’m thinking ‘Netflix For Life’. “But I only got a year.” Yeah….maybe if you got another, even BIGGER one.
Thanks to Big Dave, who’s getting a Ferrari tattoo this weekend. Good luck with that.
Because I don’t know why, Ferrari is going to manufacturer a million-dollar, 863-horsepower gas/electric hybrid supercar called the *drumroll please* LaFerrari. *womp womp* Wow, and I was this close to putting my name on the waiting list.
The LaFerrari has more power than the McLaren P1, it’s also a hybrid made entirely of carbon fibre, it will do 62 mph under 3 seconds, and they will only make 499 while already having about 700 orders.
Who cares about how fast it can do 62MPH, how quickly can I get it to 88MPH? I’m asking for a friend and not me who totally doesn’t have a flux capacitor and no this isn’t a picnic basket full of dinosaur-sized condoms behind my back. They’re, uh, weather balloons.
Hit the jump for more pictures and and a video of the thing zoom around that gave me a boner even though I tried to fight it.
Caddisfly are a species of moth-like insect that, when in their larval stage, spin a web of silk and attach whatever materials they have around them to it for protection before climbing inside to pupate. So you know what French artist Hubert Duprat gave them? A beret, baguette, and zero deodorant. “The French hate you enough as it is, GW.” Fine, he gave them a bunch of gold and jewels. These are the resulting protective cases they made. Not bad, but I don’t think of any of them are going to make it as jewelry designers. “Wow, first the French, now you’re making fun of insects — you must feel pretty good about yourself.” I knooooow, I just can’t help it — it’s a coping mechanism. “For coping with what?” You — HAHA! *drops smoke bomb, runs in a circle because I can’t see anything, smoke dissipates, you kick my ass, curtain falls, I return moments later for my final bow* Come on, nobody’s throwing roses?! What about panties? Last call — boxers and briefs. For the love of God, somebody just toss me a sock.
Hit the jump for a video of the little buggers doing their arts and crafts thing.
Because there are Hobbit fans out there with more money than they know what to do with, Weta Workshop is releasing $ 9,900 replicas of the Orcrist ‘goblin cleaver’ of Thorin Oakenshield. A lot of money, I know, but from the product description it sounds worth every penny.
Orcrist is made with the same attention to detail that the swordsmiths of the lost realm of Gondolin would have required. Peter Lyon took Paul Tobin’s design and created a piece of art and a usable weapon wrapped in one. The blade is made from tempered spring steel and the dragon’s tooth grip is cast from CC60 urethane, painted and sealed under resin.
On the cross is the name “Orcrist” etched in runes and the gently curvaceous blade, ground from spring steel, features etched elven runes stating “The Serpent’s Tooth”. On the pommel are four cubic zirconia gemstones inlaid.
The scabbard is made from a combination of white oak and steel and connects to the leather belt with leather straps and buckles. The inscription translates as “Born from the Maws of Dragons I am Always Hungry and Thirsty”.
The belt is made from embossed leather with steel buckle, loop and tip. It features straps for attaching the scabbard.
Thorin wears his sword on his back and this belt is designed to be worn over the shoulder.
This sword and its accessories are the absolute epitome of craftsmanship.
Honestly — do you ever think there will be a time in my life when I have $ 10,00of disposable income to spend on a fantasy sword replica? “GW? I don’t think there will ever be a time in your life when you have $ 10,000 PERIOD.” *wiping tear* The truth hurts, it really does.
Hit the jump for a bunch of closeups.
I know, I thought they’d already stopped years ago too. Shows how much we know! “Speak for yourself.” I WILL SPEAK FOR BOTH OF US. Yes waiter, we’re ready to order. I will have the lobster, and my friend here WILL HAVE NOTHING AND LIKE IT — MWAHAHAHAHA! Sony has officially stopped manufacturing Playstation 2′s.
After over 150 million units sold, Sony has finally put the PlayStation 2 out to pasture.
Even now, as we bid the old bird farewell, the PS2 can hold its proverbial head high. Over 1.5 billion copies of nearly 11,000 titles were sold over the last 12 years. The 70 million PS3 sales to date pale in comparison the the numbers put up by the PS2. In fact, by the numbers, the PS2 is — make that was — the most successful console of all time.
Well how about that! “About what?” I dunno, I was just eating the apple sauce pack that came in my Lunchable. It was weird because the first bite was good but the rest of it sucked — what’s up with that? “It’s a conspiracy.” Illuminati?! “Afraid so.” I’ll draft a letter to my state rep!
Dear brobro,
I know we’ve never met, and I can’t remember if I voted for you or the other moron (although I probably wrote in Harry Potter), but this goes way deeper than partisanship — this is about…what was this about? Do you get to judge the state beauty pageant? You more of an ass or boobs man? Because I like them both.
Thanks to Thel200ster, PH, Michael, Red Foxx15 and alan, who encourage you all to attend the memorial service this weekend.
